Yarn processing system and yarn feeding device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a yarn processing system comprising a textile machine and at least one yarn feeding device, which are assigned to the peripheral auxiliary devices wherein the yarn feeding device has a computerised control device that is connected by signal transmission to the auxiliary device. At least certain auxiliary devices have at least one component configured in such a way that they generate and/or receive signals. The yarn feeding device has at least one local, autonomous communication bus system for the transmission of serial data at least from and/or to the auxiliary devices, said bus system being connected to the control device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a yarn processing system for a textilemachine, and to a yarn feeding device for association with a textilemachine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Yarn processing systems, e.g. including a weaving machine and yarnfeeding devices, contain accessory devices along the yarn path from theyarn supply up to, in some cases, the exit side of the weaving shed. Theaccessory devices serve to control, treat, monitor, scan, convey, etc.the yarn. At least some accessory devices have a signal transmittingconnection to the control device of the yarn feeding device in order totransmit return messages or commands or to carry out adjustments offunctional parameters. This needs considerable cabling equipment,representing acute error sources, and requires a sophisticated equipmentand adaptation of the communicating components. Furthermore, yarnprocessing systems are known (weaving machine including yarn feedingdevices and accessory devices), which are equipped with a rapidcommunication main bus system for serial data transmission via whiche.g. a superimposed control device or the control device of the weavingmachine, respectively, communicates with the yarn feeding devices and,in some cases, with the accessory devices. Even information of the speedor the rotational angle of the textile machine and/or of the drive ofthe yarn feeding device may be transmitted in some cases via the mainbus system. Since during operation of the yarn processing system aplurality of data of frequently differing priorities is to betransmitted, and since modern yarn processing systems are extremelycomplex, the integration also of accessory devices may overwhelm thecapability of the main bus system, or the communication with theaccessory device may suffer from the dominance of higher rankingcommunications. The intelligence of the main bus system useable for theaccessory devices is limited, e.g. if the main bus system has tointerlink a plurality of yarn feeding devices and accessory devices anda jacquard weaving machine. The communication via the main bus systemneeds a sophisticated and costly equipment of the accessory devices. Thevolume of data which is to be transmitted may be too large for the mainbus system in some cases.

It is the object of the invention to provide a yarn processing system ofthe kind as disclosed at the beginning as well as a yarn feeding devicefor such a yarn processing system, with which the above-mentioneddrawbacks are avoided and for which unintentionally customisedintelligence is useable for the communication with accessory devices.

In the local bus system only accessory devices will communicate at leastwith the control device of the yarn feeding device which accessorydevices are connected to the local bus system. Superimposed or higherranking communications do not interfere with or limit the accessorydevice data exchange. The local bus system is adapted with reducedefforts for the functions which are to be carried out by the accessorydevices and is designed with an intelligence intentionally coping withthe accessory devices and allowing an optimum yarn control, yarnmonitoring or yarn treatment, respectively. A serial data transmissionwithin the local bus systems allows to achieve sufficient quickness andreliability. The autonomic design of the local bus system makes the bussystem independent from in some cases superimposed communications of theyarn feeding device within a main bus system. In some cases the yarnfeeding device may operate independent from the textile machine evenonly depending on the yarn consumption to which the yarn feeding devicewith the accessory devices within the local bus system is reactingitself by monitoring and controlling actions.

Expediently, the local bus system is customised for the communicationwith the accessory devices and may, e.g., for that reason be simpler interms of the cabling equipment, even if the accessory devices may have afair cost equipment which would not be directly compatible with a mainbus system. This allows to save costs. Furthermore, at any timeaccessory devices may be added or removed, since the local bus system isvery flexible.

The yarn feeding device with its local bus system for the accessorydevices is capable to optimally adapt to the operation conditions and tocommunicate with the accessory devices on a high level of operationalsafety. The control device of the yarn feeding device is informed aboutthe actions in and at the accessory devices, is apt to preciselycontrol, adjust, activate or de-active the accessory devices. Thanks toa serial data transmission even complex data may be transmitted rapidlyand reliably. The local bus system may be designed in a flexible fashionsuch that an unlimited number of accessory devices of different kindsmay be connected to or removed without interference with superimposeddata transmission processes in a main bus system which may be providedin some cases. Normally, two conductors suffice for the local bussystem, in some cases even a connection having only one conductor.Respective interface processors or simple microcontrollers or PC-boardsallow a simple equipment of the accessory devices and within the localbus system.

In a premium communication system each feeding device of the yarnprocessing system is a node of a rapid communication main bus system viawhich the yarn feeding devices communicate with each other or with asuperimposed control device and/or a control device of the textilemachine, via which they receive commands or information or supply returnmessages. Another kind of data transmission may take place in the mainbus system than in the local bus system. It is, however, possible tochoose at least similar data transmission kinds in the main bus systemand in the local bus system in order to e.g. selectively carry out alsoan indirect communication from the main bus system to a local bussystem, or vice versa. The local bus system of the yarn feeding deviceprovided for the connected accessory devices may be a complementarysub-system for the main bus system.

As the requirements in terms of operation, monitoring or adjustment ofaccessory devices normally are lower than for the communication betweenthe textile machine and the yarn feeding devices a local bus system maybe expedient which is slower in comparison to a rapid main bus system,because then the cabling equipment and the costs for the electronicequipment may be reduced. Such a rapid main bus system e.g. may be aCAN-bus system operating with a bit transmission rate larger than 20kbps while the slower local bus system only needs to be designed for abit transmission rate of less than 20 kbps (kilobytes per second).Expediently, the local bus system is a single conductor sub-system beingcomplementary with the rapid main bus system. The sub-system may bebased on a UART-standard-equipment of the control of the yarn feedingdevice (universal asynchronous receiver and transmitter). The reason isthat UART-connections are by far the simplest prerequisite forimplementing a serial communication. Such UART-connections already arepresent in the form of on-chip-periphery equipment in virtually allmodern microcontrollers. Within the UART-standard messages aretransferred in the form of bytes-level-characters. By completion withsome external, simple driving circuitries and by interlinking twoUART-connections a simple single conductor connection may be achieved(in connection with a logic ground connector). The single conductorconnection is connected in wired-or-configuration and allows abi-directional half duplex-communication. Messages are emitted by thebus master in the form of frames. The specification of the frame definesa simple identifier by which e.g. 60 differently defined messages may beformed. Fair costs low-end microcontrollers may be connected to thesingle conductor connection on the UART-standard base, i.e., therequirements for the hardware are only low such that totally a fair costbut function safe local bus system can be achieved.

The local bus system based on the UART-standard only needs a singleconductor connection of two UART-connections to at least onemicrocontroller of the accessory device, or via an accessory device-PCboard, which in some cases may be completed by an external drivingcircuit.

In case that such a simple local bus system is used for a relativelyslow transmissions of adjustment values, target values, on/off commands,filter adjustments, schemes of modulation, and the like, the local bussystem expediently may be completed by at least one separate SYNC-linefor the real-time transmission of information representing either thetextile machine rotational angle or the textile machine position or therotational angle or the position of the drive of the yarn feeding deviceor the respective speeds, respectively. By the common consideration ofthe communication within the local bus system and of the informationgiven in the separate SYNC-line the accessory devices are apt in aflexible fashion to operate very precisely. Such a local bus system thenis upgraded to be substantially of equal value as to a rapid main bussystem extending to the accessory devices, which however is by far morecostly.

Expediently, accessory devices located at the entrance side of the yarnfeeding device, are connected to a SYNC-line which transmits as aninformation for the operation of the accessory device the speed or therotational angle or the position of the drive of the yarn feedingdevice, while accessory devices located at the exit side of the yarnfeeding device are connected to a SYNC-line reporting the speed or therotational angle or the position of the textile machine, respectively.Also in this case the combination of a simple local bus system and ofthe SYNC-lines results in relatively high intelligence useful for theoperation of the accessory devices. A pulse chain which is proportionalto the speed, e.g. may be transmitted on the SYNC-line. The accessorydevice may then combine that information with the content of thecommunication within the local bus system without using e.g. the controldevice of the textile machine or the main bus system, respectively.

Alternatively, the sensor and/or the drive motor and/or parameteradjustment assemblies and/or yarn control assemblies of the feedingdevice itself may be connected additionally to the local bus system.

In case of demand local bus systems of several yarn feeding devices maybe interconnected at least selectively for a lateral communication. Thendata may be transmitted from one local bus system into another local bussystem, expediently under surveillance by the control device of a yarnfeeding device which control device then is functioning as a master. Itis possible to allow a direct intercommunication between accessorydevices, e.g. for transmitting or recalling functional parameters whichare valid for several equal accessory device within the yarn processingsystem. Basically, it may be expedient to separate the local bus systemsfrom the rapid main bus system e.g. by the control device of therespective yarn feeding device.

In an alternative solution a selectively activated interface may beprovided between the main bus system and at least one local bus system,e.g. in or at the control device of the respective yarn feeding device.

It is not necessary to base the local bus system on the UART-standard.Alternatively, the local bus system may be a CAN-bus system or a daisychain bus system for serial data transmissions. In such cases, however,the high costs for each node in a local CAN-bus are only justified ifaccessory devices are connected which have extremely valuable equipmentand functionality.

Each accessory device, expediently, is connected via at least oneinterface processor or a accessory PC board, respectively, to the yarnfeeding device control device, or is connected to a yarn feeding devicemain PC board of the yarn feeding device control device. These designssimplify to exchange, remove or add accessory devices.

The node of a yarn feeding device in the main bus system expedientlyought to comprise a cluster which connected to the main bus system via ageneral power supply.

Accessory devices connected to a local bus system of a yarn feedingdevice may be different natures. An accessory device at the entranceside of the yarn feeding device e.g. could be an electronic yarn runsensor and/or yarn breakage sensor, and/or yarn speed sensor, and/oryarn quality sensor which not only delivers signals into the local bussystem but also may be adjusted in terms of its functional parameters.The accessory device receives the required information on the speed orthe rotary angle e.g. via the SYNC-line incorporated into the local bussystem. An accessory device at the entrance side of the yarn feedingdevice may be a yarn oiler or a yarn waxer treating the yarn with animpregnation agent such that the application of the impregnation agentis variable via the local bus system, that the function is monitored andin some cases information is exchanged on the filling level or theamount of the stored impregnating agent. Another accessory device at theentrance side could be a slip conveyor operating in dependence from thespeed of the drive of the yarn feeding device and which needs to beadjusted to the speed. An accessory device at the exit side of the yarnfeeding device may be a controlled yarn brake the braking effect ofwhich needs to be varied, activated or de-activated during the yarnsruns with the help of information transmitted in the local bus system.In this case also the speed or rotational angle information from thetextile machine may be used in some cases by means of the SYNC-line. Inthe local bus system also a function monitoring or the like can becarried out. A further accessory device located at the exit side of theyarn feeding device may be a tensiometer for scanning or reporting theyarn tension. If needed, in such a case the tensiometer may be suppliedwith speed information via the SYNC-line, while measured values andfunctional parameters are transmitted in the local bus system. Themeasured values, e.g. may be used for controlling a yarn brake, e.g. bymeans of the local bus system. The operation or sensitivity of thetensiometer may be monitored or adjusted. The tensiometer may in somecases be integrated into or interlinked with a controlled yarn brake. Afurther accessory device at the exit side of the yarn feeding device isa weft yarn detector reporting in dependency from the speed or therotational angle of the textile machine the yarn running motion or theyarn stop, and which emits in case of a disturbance a disturbance signaland which may be adjusted e.g. in terms of its sensitivity or may becalibrated, respectively, via the local bus system. An accessory deviceat the exit side of the yarn feeding device and in the local bus systemeven may be a variable slip conveyor. Furthermore, a pneumatic threadingdevice or a pneumatic yarn removing device, which e.g. is activated orde-activated by means of solenoid valves and is surveyed in view to theoperation, could be provided as an accessory device, or even a pneumaticyarn stretcher. Functional parameters for these accessory devices aretransmitted in the local bus system, while the speed and rotation angleinformation is provide via at least one SYNC-line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will be explained with the help of thedrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a yarn processing systemincluding at least one yarn feeding device and at least one local bussystem for accessory devices,

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a further embodiment of a yarnprocessing system,

FIG. 3 is a detailed illustration of the yarn processing system of FIG.1,

FIG. 4 is a simple embodiment of a yarn processing system having anotherdesign of a local bus system, and

FIG. 5 is a more complex variant belong to FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A yarn processing system S shown in FIG. 1 includes at least one yarnfeeding device F and a textile machine M, e.g. a weaving machine L,intermittently consuming the weft yarns fed by the yarn feeding deviceF. The weaving machine L may be a jet weaving machine, a rapier weavingmachine, projectile weaving machine or even a jacquard weaving machine.Alternatively, the yarn processing system S could be a knitting machinehaving knitting yarn feeding devices. In addition to the yarn feedingdevices shown in full lines further yarn feeding devices F′ shown indotted lines could be associated to the textile machine M.

The yarn feeding device F has an electronically controlled drive motor 1and on-board sensors 2. The sensors 2 may, e.g., scan or control thesize of a yarn store, yarn movements, the yarn withdrawal speed, and thelike, or even may include a stopping device for measuring the weft yarnlengths for a jet weaving machine, respectively, which stopping devicemay be controlled in dependence from the weaving cycles. Furthermore,the yarn feeding device F is provided with a computerised electroniccontrol device C, e.g. having a main PC-board PCF which may beintegrated into the yarn feeding device F.

For controlling, treating, monitoring, scanning, etc. of the yarnperipheral accessory devices 3 to 6 are provided in the vicinity of theyarn feeding device F and along the yarn path. The accessory device 3may be a yarn sensor or a yarn breakage sensor 7 monitoring the yarnmovement or the yarn run at the entrance side of the yarn feeding deviceF while the drive motor 1 is running, or may be a yarn knot sensor or ayarn quality sensor. The accessory device 4 may be a yarn oiler orliquid dispenser or a yarn waxer 8 applying an impregnating agent to theyarn at the entrance side of the yarn feeding device, and having adrive. Those accessory devices 3, 4 need to be adjusted in terms offunctional parameters and need to be informed e.g. additionally aboutthe speed or the position of the drive motor 1 of the yarn feedingdevice F, in order to operate properly.

The accessory device 5 located at the exit side of the yarn feedingdevice F e.g. may be a controlled yarn brake or a pneumatic yarnstretcher 9 serving to adjust e.g. a predetermined yarn tension profile.The accessory device 6 at the exit side may be a tensiometer 10 or aweft yarn detector. The tensiometer measures the yarn tension and emitssignals representing the yarn tension. The weft yarn detector emitsmessages e.g. whether or not the yarn moves at an expected point intime. The accessory devices 5 and 6 at least are adjustable in terms oftheir functional parameters. In some cases they will need informationabout the rotational angle or the position or the speed of the textilemachine for a correct function.

Functional parameters which need to be adjusted for the yarn oiler orthe liquid dispenser in dependence from the operation of the drive motor1 e.g. are the driving speed in proportion to the speed of the drive 1of the yarn feeding device and the activation and the de-activation. Thefunctional parameters which are to be adjusted for a yarn breakagesensor at the entrance side are the activation and de-activation independence from the run of the drive motor 1, and, in some cases, anelectronic filter effect or the response behaviour depending on the yarnspeed or the speed of the drive motor 1, respectively. Similarfunctional parameters are to be adjusted for a yarn knot sensor or ayarn quality sensor. For a controlled yarn brake located at the exitside e.g. a yarn tension profile or a modulation scheme for the yarntension are functional parameters which need to be adjusted. In case ofa weft yarn detector at the exit side functional parameters, which needto be adjusted, may be the activation and de-activation in coincidencewith the start and the end of an insertion cycle, as well as anelectronic filter effect or the response behaviour and the activationduration, respectively, which, e.g., are correlated to the textilemachine rotational angle. In case of a pneumatic yarn stretcherdifferent pressure levels or activation and de-activation times may befunctional parameters which need to be adjusted e.g. in correlation tothe rotational angle of the textile machine. In case of a tensiometerthe electronic filter effect or the response behaviour, respectively,and the transmission of the measuring results are functional parameterswhich need to be adjusted, e.g. in correlation to the rotational angleof the textile machine.

The information about the speed or the rotational angle or the positionof the textile machine and/or of the drive of the yarn feeding device isnot needed by each accessory device for a correct function. Simpleraccessory devices may operate correctly without this information,provided that e.g. the functional parameters are adjusted and that thecommands for activation or de-activation are transmitted.

In FIG. 1 the yarn feeding device F is provided with a local bus systemBL for the accessory devices. The local bus system BL comprises e.g. aconnection 11 with the control device C (including one or twoconductors) including a logical ground, and is designed for a serialdata transmission between the control device C and the accessory devices3 to 6. Each accessory device 3 to 6 may be connected to the connection11 via an interface processor or a PC-board P designed for auni-directional or a bi-directional communication. The local bus systemBL may be autonomic and includes in FIG. 1 e.g. accessory devices Awhich communicate with the control device C, i.e., emit signalsrepresenting a condition, or receive signals with the help of which theyare starting or carrying out actions or with which their functionalparameters are adjusted.

Each of the further yarn feeding devices F′ also is equipped with alocal, autonomic bus system BL′ for accessory devices A′ which may bethe same or may differ from the accessory devices A in the local bussystem BL of the yarn feeding device F.

In some cases in the connection 11 (a bus) of the local bus system BL aninterface 12 may be provided which either directly or by means of aconnection 13 from the control device C may be activated in order toselectively transmit or receive data to or from the local bus system BL′of a certain or of each yarn feeding device F′ by means of a lateralconnection 13′.

In FIG. 1 each yarn feeding device F′, F′ defines a node N in a rapidmain bus system BM for a rapid serial communication (e.g. a CAN-bussystem) to which the control devices C are connected via interfaceprocessors 14. The main bus system BM includes a connection 15 (a bus)which e.g. is connected to a superimposed control device 16 and/or acontrol device CU of the textile machine M.

In case that a main bus system BM is provided, each local bus system BL,BL′ may be separated therefrom by means of the associated control deviceC. It also is possible to carry out a directed or processed datatransmission from the local bus system into the main bus system or viceversa.

The local bus system BL, BL′ may be a CAN-bus system or a daisy chainbus system, for a serial data transmission, respectively, or a serial,relatively simple and slow single conductor bus system usingUART-connections conventionally present in the chip of the feedingdevice control device C for the bi-directional communication,particularly with the help of frame messages which are transferred inthe form of byte-level-characters. In this case simple driving circuitssuffice and low cost low-end microcontrollers in the accessory devicesdirectly may be addressed. As a result, costly CAN nodes with costlyCAN-controllers may be dispensed with. While in the main bus system inthe case of a CAN bus system bit rates of more than 20 kbps areconventional, the bit rate in the local bus system instead would be lessthan 20 kbps in case of a single conductor bus system on the basis oftwo interlinked UART-connections. The local bus system BL serves mainlyto transmit the above-mentioned functional parameters. In case of aCAN-local bus system, however, also the information about the speed orthe rotational angle of the textile machine and/or of the yarn feedingdevice could be transmitted as well.

In FIG. 1 the drive motor 1 of the yarn feeding device F is controllede.g. by using the signals of the sensor 2. In some cases the control oradjustment of the sensors 2 or of a stopping device of the yarn feedingdevice, respectively, is carried out independent from the datatransmission in the local bus system BL.

FIG. 2 indicates alternatively that also the control of the drive motor1 and the data transmission to and from the sensor 2 of the yarn feedingdevice may take place in the local bus system BL of the yarn feedingdevice F. The control device C may be connected to the main bus systemBM. Basically, if expedient, at least some control routines may becarried out at the yarn feeding device via the main bus system e.g. inassociation to the operation of the textile machine. However, each yarnfeeding device F, F′ could be operated even without the main bus systemBM in another way but could, however, communicate within its local bussystem BL with at least one accessory device. By means of the main bussystem a communication is possible in some cases with each local bussystem BL, particularly directly or indirectly. In such a case eachlocal bus system would be designed as a simpler, slower andcomplementary sub-system of the main bus system.

Even though this is not shown in the figures also accessory devices inthe region of a yarn supply (of the bobbin stand or the like) may beincorporated into at least one local bus system.

In the configuration of the yarn processing system S in FIG. 3 thetextile machine M, e.g. a weaving machine L alternatingly consumes theyarn Y from some or from all of the yarn feeding devices F, F′. Eachyarn feeding device withdraws the yarn Y from a supply bobbin 17, formsa intermediate store, and allows the insertion of the yarn depending onthe demand by means of a not shown insertion device into a weaving shed19 such that the insertion is monitored and is carried out with acertain yarn tension profile. The accessory devices A, A′, 3 to 6, 18,are shown along the yarn path with their reference signs in bracketsbecause they are illustrated in the highlighted local bus system BL inenlarged scale. This is true also for a weft yarn detector 18 in frontof the weaving shed 19.

The weaving machine L has a drive system 20 which is connected to thecontrol device CU and is controlled by the control device CU whichpermanently is provided (not shown) with information about the speedand/or the rotational angle and/or the position of the main shaft of theweaving machine L. The main bus system BM is connected to the controldevice CU, e.g. via a main bus system operation assembly 21. In theregion of the node N the control device C of the yarn feeding device Fis connected to the connection 15 (the main bus) e.g. via a so-calledcluster 23 and a main power supply 22. The main bus or the connection 15comprises at least two lines in a not shown fixation for the yarnfeeding devices F, F′. At the fixation the yarn feeding devices aresecured by means of clamping devices 24 such that the electricalconnection to the main bus system BM is made by the installation. Thelocal, autonomic bus system BL is connected to the control device C withits connection 11 e.g. via a local bus system-processor assembly 25 (ordirectly or via a not shown accessory device PC-board respectively).

The following accessory devices are connected to the connection 11 as anot limitative, exemplary selection of differing accessory devices A forthe weft yarn feeding device of the weaving machine L:

The yarn sensor 3 contains an electronic sensor 26 which, e.g. dependingon the speed or the position of the drive motor 1, scans the yarn motionor yarn stop or even the yarn speed, respectively, and suppliescorresponding signals to the control device C. The yarn sensor 3,instead, could be designed as a quality sensor or a knot sensor or thelike. In some cases the yarn sensor may comprise a function monitoringcomponent 28 and an adjustment component 27 for the sensitivity and theresponse behaviour. The components 28, 27 emit monitoring signals and/orrespond to transmitted signals and initiate an action.

The yarn oiler or yarn waxer 4 comprises a controlled drive 29 forapplying the impregnating agent. The speed of the drive 29 and in somecases even the sense of rotation, the activation and de-activation, theacceleration or the like are controlled by signals from the controldevice C (e.g. in dependence from the speed of the drive motor 1), or byits own control device in another way. A reservoir may contain a fillinglevel indication component 30. Furthermore, a function monitoringcomponent 31 could be provided for transmitting disturbance informationto the control device C.

A controlled yarn brake 5 e.g. contains a solenoid 32 as anelectronically controlled drive for a displaceable braking element 33,and comprises, in some cases, a function monitoring component or anadjusting component 34 provided for communication with the controldevice C. The yarn brake operates in some cases depending on informationabout the rotational angle or the speed of the weaving machine L,respectively.

The tensiometer 6 comprises a signal generating electric component 35apt to generate signals representing the yarn tension by means of anevaluation circuitry 36 and apt to transmit the signals to the controldevice C and/or even to the control device CU of the weaving machine L.Furthermore, a function monitoring/adjustment component 37 may beprovided and integrated into the local bus system BL. The operation ofthe tensiometer 6 is carried out in some cases with the help ofinformation about the rotational angle or the speed of the weavingmachine L, respectively.

The yarn detector 8 or the weft yarn detector 18, respectively, monitorsthe yarn run, e.g. under consideration of information about therotational angle or the position or the speed of the weaving machine L,and comprises an electronic sensor component 38 which generatescorresponding signals. In some cases, additionally a calibrating orfunction monitoring component 39 may be provided, also serving foradjusting the electronic filter effect or the response behaviour,respectively. The yarn detector or weft yarn detector 18, 28 even maycontain an evaluation circuitry for generating fault information as asignal while the yarn is scanned when the yarn runs or stops at a notexpected point in time. Further, not shown accessory devices A may beintegrated in the local bus system BL, e.g. a variable slip conveyor forthe yarn and/or a pneumatic yarn stretcher and/or a pneumatic threadingdevice of the yarn feeding device and/or a pneumatic yarn removingdevice.

The combination of the rapid main bus system BM with the sub-systems inthe form of the local bus systems BL, BL′ of the yarn feeding devices F,F′ results in a universal and flexible communication system of highcapacity wherein the data transmission in the respective local bussystem for the accessory device is carried out in a customised fashionand without a collision with the data transmission in the main bussystem. The yarn processing system, expediently, may operate with anoperation voltage for the electronic of about 48 V but with a motordrive voltage of about 310 V. Within the main bus system also data maybe transmitted to the yarn feeding devices which represent upcomingpattern developments in order to allow a preparatory operation behaviourof the yarn feeding devices without drastic decelerations oraccelerations. Furthermore, e.g. the weft yarn length and the weavingmachine speed may be transmitted. So-called trig signals or SYNC-signals(on the SYNC-line) may be transmitted from the weaving machine to eachyarn feeding device. The yarn feeding devices accordingly process suchsignals. The signals provide information about the rotational angle, thespeed, or the position of the weaving machine during the operation.These signals may also be supplied into the local bus systems. Eachlocal bus system BL, BL′ or the accessory devices are designed withcustomised intelligence and is, for those reasons, simpler and lesscostly than the main system since the local bus system does not have totake care of higher ranking or foreign control processes and monitoringprocesses.

In the figures only one local bus system is indicated for the accessorydevices of a single yarn feeding device. It is, however, possible toassociate several local and autonomic bus systems to each yarn feedingdevice which local bus systems respectively are provided for certainaccessory devices or accessory device groups. In this case singlepoint-to-point bus systems or bus systems extending from a master toseveral slaves are possible.

A particularly simple and low cost embodiment of a local bus system BLis shown in FIG. 4. The local bus system BL has a single conductorconnection 11′ (including the conventional logic earth (GD), based onthe UART-connections 40, 41 (and 42 for the logic earth GD) which areconventionally provided at the chip or the processor of the controldevice C of the yarn feeding device F. The control device C e.g.contains a PC-board, PCF with at least one processor PF which isdesigned for a serial rapid communication with the bus 15 of the mainbus system BM via the interface processor 14 in the node N. The controldevice CU of the weaving machine L also is incorporated into the mainbus system BM. The control device CU receives information about therotational angle α of a main shaft of the weaving machine L via aSYNC-line 34 (or information about the momentary speed and/or positionof the weaving machine L, respectively).

The UART-connections 40, 41 e.g. provided at the exit of a drivingcircuit 44, are interconnected by a jumper 49 or the like at a locationwhere the single conductor connection 11′ extends to a simplemicrocontroller P′ of the accessory device A, in this case e.g. the yarnsensor or the yarn breakage sensor 7 is connected. The driving circuit44 forms e.g. with the single conductor connection 11′ part of the localbus system BL for the accessory device A. Several accessory devices maybe connected to the single conductor connection 11′. Mainly functionalparameters, adjustment values and the like and return information istransmitted (bi-directionally) via the single conductor connection 11′.The logic earth GD is connected to the third UART-connection 42.

The desired serial communication either takes place only between thecontrol device C and the accessory device 3, or, if needed, also withthe main bus system BM with the help of the control device C.

FIG. 5 illustrates a simple and flexible communication system of a yarnprocessing system containing a rapid serial main bus system BM and alocal slow serial bus system BL between which the control device C ofthe yarn feeding device F is provided. The main bus system BM e.g. is aCAN-bus system having the connection 15 extending from the controldevice CU of the weaving machine L via a control box PCB centrallyprovided for all yarn feeding devices to the main PC-board PCF of thecontrol device C. In a separate SYNC-line 40 the rotational angle α orthe speed or the position of the main shaft 44 of the weaving machine Lis transmitted, e.g. in the form of a pulse chain proportionally to thespeed. The SYNC-line 43 extends via the control box PCB to the mainPC-board PCF of the yarn feeding device.

A PC-board PCA for all connected accessory devices 3, 5 is associated inthe local bus system BL to the main PC-board PCF of the yarn feedingdevice F e.g. by means of a not shown connector. The signal conductorconnection 11′ extends from the jumper 49 to the board PCA, and inparallel thereto the SYNC-line 44, as well as a further SYNC-line 46 onwhich the rotational angle or the speed or the position of the drivemotor 1 of the yarn feeding device is transmitted. The single conductorconnection 11′ continues from the board PCA to a microcontroller 3′ ofthe accessory device 3, e.g. a yarn quality sensor, and to amicrocontroller 5′ of the accessory device 5, e.g. a controlled yarnbrake. The separate SYNC-line 46 extends from the board PCA to themicrocontroller 3′, while the separate SYNC-line 43 extends to themicrocontroller 5′.

Mainly functional parameters and other simpler messages are transmittedvia the single conductor connection 11′. The accessory devices operateby using the information transmitted via the single conductor connection11′ and by using the information transmitted on the respective SYNC-line43 or 46. The communication on the single conductor connection 11′ iscarried out serially with frames within which byte level characters aretransferred, particularly in a half duplex bi-directional communication.The given UART specification allows to identify a simple “identifier” bywhich e.g. 60 basic messages can be defined. The byte transmission rateis smaller than 20 kbps. The local bus system BL constitutes acomplementary sub-system of the rapid serial main bus system BM which,so to speak, defines the communication core within the yarn processingsystem. Since real-time information is provided for the accessorydevices via the SYNC-lines 43, 46, the local bus system BL is madeintelligent and flexible in view to adding or removing accessorydevices.

Even not shown in FIG. 5, the single conductor connection 11′ couldextend from the main PC-board PCF of the yarn feeding device F to thecontrol box PCB and from there to further accessory devices, in somecases even to accessory devices at the bobbin stand or bobbin creel. Asa further alternative, the connection 15 of the main bus system BM couldbe continued into the board PCA, in order to, if desired, allow moresophisticated configuration of the local bus systems BL and, in somecases, to allow to connect further CAN-nodes.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has beendisclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognizedthat variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, includingthe rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the presentinvention.

1. Yarn processing system, comprising: at least one textile machine,particularly a weaving machine; at least one yarn feeding deviceoperatively associated with the textile machine; at least one peripheralaccessory device functionally associated with the yarn feeding devicefor controlling and/or treating and/or monitoring and/or scanning theyarn, said yarn feeding device and said accessory device defining a yarnpath; a computerized control device that is part of said yarn feedingdevice and which has a signal transmitting connection with the accessorydevice, the accessory device being provided with at least one electroniccomponent for generating and/or receiving signals either presenting atleast one condition or initiating at least one action; a local bussystem configured to serially communicate data between said yarn feedingdevice and said accessory device, said local bus system connecting toand being controlled by said control device that is part of said yarnfeeding device so as to operate autonomously with respect to other yarnfeeding devices, accessory devices, and local bus systems of other yarnpaths; and a main bus system connected with at least one main controldevice of the textile machine or with a superimposed control device forserial rapid data communication, with the yarn feeding device andcontrol device that is part of said yarn feeding device constituting atleast one node of the main bus system, said node comprising at least oneinterface processor like a gate-way processor; wherein the local bussystem operates at a first data transmission rate and the main bussystem operates at a second data transmission rate, with the first datatransmission rate being slower in comparison to the second datatransmission rate.
 2. Yarn feeding device, comprising: a computerizedcontrol device; several accessory devices for controlling and/ortreating and/or monitoring and/or scanning the yarn along a yarn path,the accessory devices being functionally associated with the yarnfeeding device, the respective accessory devices comprising electroniccomponents being in signal transmitting connection with the computerizedcontrol device; and at least one local, autonomous bus system for serialdata communication between the computerized control device and theaccessory devices; wherein the computerized control device of the yarnfeeding device is incorporated into a rapid serial main bus system, andwherein the local bus system is a complementary, slower sub-system ofthe main bus system.
 3. Yarn feeding device, comprising: a computerizedcontrol device; several accessory devices for controlling and/ortreating and/or monitoring and/or scanning the yarn along a yarn path,the accessory devices being functionally associated with the yarnfeeding device, the respective accessory devices comprising electroniccomponents being in signal transmitting connection with the controldevice; and at least one local, autonomous bus system for serial datacommunication between the computerized control device and the accessorydevices; wherein the local bus system is completed by at least oneseparate SYNC-line for a real-time transmission of informationrepresenting the textile machine speed and/or the rotary angle and/orthe position or the feeding device drive motor rotary angle and/or thespeed of the drive motor and/or the drive motor position, and whereinthe information is transmitted in the format of pulse chains which areproportional to the speed.
 4. Yarn processing system as in claim 1,wherein the main bus system operates at a second data transmission rateof more than 20 kbps, while the local bus system operates at a firstdata transmission rate of less than 20 kbps, the local bus system beinga local single conductor sub-system based on a UART-standard equipmentof the control device of the yarn feeding device and being complementaryto the main bus system.
 5. Yarn processing system as in claim 4, whereinthe local bus system is a single conductor connection of two combinedUART-connections, the single conductor connection extending directly orvia an accessory device PC-board to a microcontroller of the respectiveaccessory device completed by at least one external driving circuitry,and wherein within the local bus system a bi-directional half duplexcommunication with defined messages in frame format can be carried out.